For release: Friday, July 8, 2016
Washington, DC—In the wake of the sniper attack last night at a peaceful protest rally in Dallas that left five law enforcement officers dead and nine injured, as well as two private citizens, Violence Policy Center Executive Director Josh Sugarmann stated:
“For years, the Violence Policy Center has warned that because of the free-flow of militarized weaponry and lax gun laws that define our nation, it is all too easy for virtually anyone in America to literally arm and outfit their own army. Last night in Dallas we saw the inevitable result of this lethal mix: an attack against law enforcement that from amateur video shot at the scene apparently involved an assault rifle. Responsibility for this lethal assault falls directly at the feet of the gun industry, which designs, markets, and sells the military-bred weapons necessary for such attacks. They must finally be held accountable.”
Recent VPC research reveals that in 2014, the most recent year for which information is available, one in five law enforcement officers slain in the line of duty were killed with an assault weapon.
The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. Follow the VPC on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
